Quadrature signal generation

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses and methods for quadrature signal generation are provided. An example includes a quadrature signal generator. The quadrature signal generator is configured to generate, based on a received differential signal, a plurality of quadrature clock signals at a same frequency as that of the received differential signal. The quadrature signal generator is also configured to provide the plurality of quadrature clock signals to a memory system.

PRIORITY INFORMATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/155,512 filed Oct. 9, 2018, the contents of which are included hereinby reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to memory, and moreparticularly, to apparatus and methods for quadrature signal generation.

BACKGROUND

Digital and mixed digital-analog circuits often operate based on timingclocks which may be generated from a master clock. These timing clocksmay be generated using a clock generator such as a programmablephase-locked loop (PLL) and associated control and/or signal shapingcircuitry. The characteristics of timing clocks provided to electronicsystem components can affect various system parameters. For example, inmemory systems, parameters such as memory interface bandwidth can dependon characteristics such as clock frequency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system including a clocking system inaccordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a quadrature signal generator in accordance with anumber of embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example duty cycle adjuster of a quadrature signalgenerator in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of an example smoothing filter of aquadrature signal generator in accordance with a number of embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A-B illustrate an example filter bank of a quadrature signalgenerator in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example limiting amplifier of a quadrature signalgenerator in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates example phase adjusters of a quadrature signalgenerator in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example of method for generatingquadrature clock signals in accordance with a number of embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods associated withquadrature signal generation. An example includes a quadrature signalgenerator. The quadrature signal generator is configured to generate,based on a differential signal, a plurality of quadrature clock signalsat a same frequency as that of the received differential signal. Thequadrature signal generator is also configured to provide the pluralityof quadrature clock signals to a memory system.

Embodiments of the present disclosure includes providing quadratureclock signals by using a quadrature signal generator. In a number ofembodiments, a filter bank such as a polyphase filter (e.g., a passivepolyphase filter) can be an example of the quadrature signal generator.As used herein, a filter bank refers to a device that separates an inputsignal into multiple signals each carrying a single frequency sub-bandof the input signal, and a polyphase filter refers to a filter bank thatseparates an input signal into multiple signals each carrying anequidistant frequency sub-band of the input signal.

Quadrature signal generation, which may be referred to as “IQ” signalgeneration, has been used in, for example, various radio frequency (RF)applications such as front-end signal processing. Quadrature signalgeneration can also be useful in clocking systems for memory systemssuch as double data rate (DDR) memory systems in order to improveinterface bandwidth, for example. However, various quadrature signalgeneration methods can have drawbacks such as increasing the size of amemory system, increasing power consumption, and/or increasing noise ofthe clock signals, among other drawbacks. For example, in someapproaches, a divide-by-two circuit along with an oscillator at twicethe desired local oscillator (LO) frequency has been used to generatethe quadrature signals. Using the divide-by-two circuit along with thePLL, therefore, may require an operating frequency of the PLL to be atleast twice of the desired frequencies of the quadrature signals, whichcan lead to high phase noise, increased power usage, and increased area.Alternatively, a PLL may be used with two coupled local oscillators.However, using the two oscillators may require a larger inductor area(e.g., twice than had the local oscillators not been used), which canlead to phase noise and/or difficulty associated with signal tuning andaccuracy.

In contrast, embodiments of the present disclosure can include providingquadrature clock signals generated at a same frequency as that of thosesignals generated from the clock generator (e.g., PLL) while providingquadrature signals operating in a wideband frequency range (e.g., 2.5gigahertz (GHz) to 5 GHz) to meet high bandwidth requirements ofstate-of-the-art circuits and systems such as DDR memory systems.

In the following detailed description of the present disclosure,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration how one or more embodimentsof the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art topractice the embodiments of this disclosure, and it is to be understoodthat other embodiments may be utilized and that process, electrical,and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure. As used herein, designators such as “N”, “M”,etc., particularly with respect to reference numerals in the drawings,indicate that a number of the particular feature so designated can beincluded. As used herein, “a number of” a particular thing can refer toone or more of such things (e.g., a number of memory arrays can refer toone or more memory arrays). A “plurality of” is intended to refer tomore than one of such things.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the firstdigit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and theremaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing.Similar elements or components between different figures may beidentified by the use of similar digits. For example, 104 may referenceelement “04” in FIG. 1, and a similar element may be referenced as 204in FIG. 2. As will be appreciated, elements shown in the variousembodiments herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as toprovide a number of additional embodiments of the present disclosure. Inaddition, as will be appreciated, the proportion and the relative scaleof the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustratecertain embodiments of the present invention, and should not be taken ina limiting sense.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 including a clocking system101 in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The clocking system 101 includes a clock generator 102 and aquadrature signal generator 104.

The clocking system 101 may be located in various locations within thesystem 100. As an example, the system 100 may comprise a host and theclocking system 101 may be located within the host. The host can includea system motherboard and/or backplane and can include a number ofprocessing resources (e.g., one or more processors, microprocessors, orsome other type of controlling circuitry), such as a central processingunit (CPU). An example host can be a personal laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a digital camera, a mobile telephone, or a memory card reader,among various other types of hosts. As another example, the system 100may comprise a memory system, which can be a memory system serving asmain memory such as a DRAM system and/or a memory system serving as astorage volume such as a solid state drive (SSD), although embodimentsare not so limited.

The clock generator 102 may include a circuit, such as a PLL, thatproduces a clock signal based on a received external clock signal (e.g.,master clock or reference clock). As an example, in embodiments in whichthe system 100 comprises a memory system, the clock generator 102 canreceive a clock signal from a host (not shown) to which the system 100is coupled.

The clock signal 103 generated at the clock generator 102 can be used asa sampling signal(s) that the quadrature signal generator 104 can use togenerate other signals. In a number of embodiments, the clock signal 103can comprise a complementary pair of differential signals. For example,signals of the pair can be 180° out of phase with one another.Therefore, the clock signal 103 can be referred to as differentialsignals.

The quadrature signal generator 104 can generate quadrature clocksignals 105 based on the clock signal 103 received from the clockgenerator 102. As used herein, quadrature signals refer to signals ineach quadrant being 90° out of phase relative to each other such thatthe generated signal is provided at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. Thequadrature clock signals can include an in-phase (I) signal(s) and aquadrature-phase (Q) signal(s), which are phase-shifted by 90° relativeto each other.

In a number of embodiments, the quadrature signal generator 104 can be afilter bank and configured to generate the quadrature clock signals 105at a same frequency as that of the differential signal 103. For example,a frequency of each signal generated at the quadrature signal generator104 can be equivalent to that of at least one of the clock signals 103received from the clock generator 102. As an example, a frequency of theinput clock signal 103 may be 5 GHz and the frequency of the quadratureclock signal 105 can as also be 5 GHz. However, embodiments are notlimited to a particular clock frequency or clock frequency range.

The quadrature clock signals 105 generated at the quadrature signalgenerator can be provided to a host and/or a memory device (not shown)and used to control timing of various components thereof. The memorydevice can comprise a DRAM device, SRAM device, STT RAM device, PCRAMdevice, RRAM device, and/or NAND flash device, among various othermemory device types.

The quadrature clock signals 105 generated at the quadrature signalgenerator can be used, for example, to control timing operations of amemory system. For example, the quadrature clock signals 105 can controlthe timing of data signals transmitted between a host and a memorysystem. For instance, the clock signals 105 can comprise current modelogic (CML) clocks.

FIG. 2 illustrates a quadrature signal generator 204 in accordance witha number of embodiments of the present disclosure. The quadrature signalgenerator 204 may include a duty cycle adjuster 212, a smoothing filter214, a filter bank 216, a limiting amplifier block 218, an output buffer220, and a duty cycle/phase adjuster 222. As one example, the quadraturesignal generator 204 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be fabricated in acomplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology.

The quadrature signal generator 204 receives differential signals 203(e.g., differential signals 103) and performs a quadrature signalgeneration of quadrature clock signals 205 (e.g., quadrature clocksignals 105). The duty cycle adjuster 212 receives differential signals(e.g., I_(CLK_T) and T_(CLK_C)n), for example, via an input channelcoupled to a clock generator such as the clock generator 102. The dutycycle adjuster 212 can be configured to adjust a duty cycle of thedifferential signals. The differential signals received at the dutycycle adjuster 212 may have a non-sinusoidal waveform such as a squarewaveform. An example duty cycle adjuster is described below inassociation with FIG. 3.

The quadrature signal generator 204 includes the smoothing filter 214,which may be a low pass filter. While the received differential signalmay be of a non-sinusoidal waveform, the filter bank 216 such as apolyphase filter may operate with a sinusoidal waveform. Accordingly, ina number of embodiments, the smoothing filter 214 can be configured toconvert the differential signals to a sinusoidal waveform to match awaveform the filter bank 216 operates with. The smoothing filter 214 mayinclude a number of buffers coupled to each other (e.g., in series), asfurther described and illustrated in connection with FIG. 4.

The filter bank 216 can receive the differential signal having thesinusoidal waveform from the smoothing filter 214 and be configured togenerate a plurality of quadrature signals based on the receiveddifferential signal. In some embodiments, the filter bank 216 can be aparticular type of filter bank such as a polyphase filter. An examplefilter bank is described below in association with FIG. 5.

The limiting amplifier block 218 can include a number of limitingamplifiers to receive and restore amplitude of the quadrature signalsgenerated at the filter bank 216, which compensates an intrinsic lossthat can be introduced by the filter bank 216, which can comprise amulti-stage polyphase filter. The limiting amplifier block 218 canfurther convert the quadrature signals (e.g., sinusoidal waveform)generated at the filter bank 216 to conform to a waveform of a timingclock of a memory system, which is a non-sinusoidal waveform. Thelimiting amplifier block 218 may further include an offset adjustingcircuit for (e.g., coarse-tuning) offsets among the quadrature signalsthat can lead to duty cycle errors due to a low amplitude of thequadrature signals. An example limiting amplifier is described below inassociation with FIG. 6.

The output buffer 220 can be added subsequent to the limiting amplifierblock 218 to further compensate an intrinsic loss introduced by thefilter bank 216. In some embodiments, the output buffer 220 can be anintegrated buffer of the limiting amplifier block 218.

The duty cycle/phase adjuster block 222 may include a duty cycleadjuster that is equivalent to the duty cycle adjuster 212 and a phaseadjuster. While the duty cycle adjuster may be configured to adjust aduty cycle of quadrature signals received from the limiting amplifierblock 218, the phase adjuster may be configured to correct (e.g., tune)phase errors among phases of the quadrature signals. As described inconnection with FIG. 7, the duty cycle/phase adjuster block 222 mayinclude a number of phase adjusters coupled to each pair of signals(e.g., I and Q signals) received from the limiting amplifiers 218. Thedifferential signals filtered through a number of components of thequadrature signal generator 204 can be used to control memory systemtiming operations and can be referred to as quadrature clock signals. Anexample phase adjuster is described below in association with FIG. 7.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example duty cycle adjuster 330 of a quadraturesignal generator (e.g., quadrature signal generator 104 and 204) inaccordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure. Theduty cycle adjuster 330 may be analogous to the duty cycle adjuster 212and/or the duty cycle adjuster included in the duty cycle/phase adjusterblock 222, as described in connection with FIG. 2.

The duty cycle adjuster 330 may be a first component of the quadraturesignal generator that receives differential signals (e.g., a pair ofsignals 332-1 and 332-2 corresponding to input voltages V_(IN_0) andV_(IN_180), respectively) from a clock generator (e.g., clock generator102). The pair of signals 332-1 and 332-2 can be 180° out of phase withone another.

The duty cycle adjuster 330 includes a number of buffers 331-1, 331-2,and 331-3 (e.g., collectively referred to as buffers 331) that arecoupled to each other in series. Although three buffers 331 are shown,embodiments are not limited to a particular quantity of buffers for theduty cycle adjuster 330.

As an example, the first buffer that receives the differential signals332-1 and 332-2 can be configured to adjust rise/fall time of thedifferential signals using an adjustable capacitive load. The secondbuffer 331-2 can include a number of control bits 333 associated withcurrent injection and shifting direct current (DC) level of outputs.Using the number of control bits 333, the second buffer 331-2 can beconfigured to adjust common mode voltage through phase-selectablecurrent loading to shift direct current (DC) level of the outputs. Thesecond buffer 331-2 can further be configured to provide a coarse-tuning(shift up and shift down) to cover a full amplitude of input signals.The third buffer 331-3 can provide sufficient gain and bandwidth toamplify the small correcting differential signals to full amplitude.Signals 334-1 and 334-2 (e.g., corresponding to V_(OUT_0) andV_(OUT_180), respectively) filtered through the buffers 331 can beprovided to a smoothing filter, which is described in further detail inconnection with FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion 440 of an example smoothing filter such assmoothing filter 214 shown in FIG. 2. The portion 440 illustrated inFIG. 4 can be one of a number of buffers in the smoothing filter.Therefore, the portion 440 can be referred to as a buffer 440.

The buffer 440 may be a first buffer of the smoothing filter. In thisexample, signals corresponding to input voltages V_(IN_0) andV_(IN_180), respectively may be signals received from a duty cycleadjuster (e.g., duty cycle adjuster 212 and/or 330). For example, asignal 442-1 corresponding to the input voltage V_(IN_0) can correspondto the signal 334-1 and a signal 442-2 corresponding to the inputvoltage V_(IN_180) can correspond to the signal 344-2. As described inconnection with FIG. 3, the signals received from the duty cycleadjuster can be 180° out of phase with one another.

The buffer 440 may be coupled to a capacitor bank 441 via channelscarrying signals 444-1 and 444-2, as illustrated in FIG. 4. For example,the capacitor bank 441 can include a number of control bits 443-1,443-2, . . . 443-N (e.g., collectively referred to as control bits 443),and 445-1, 445-2, . . . 445-N (e.g., collectively referred to as controlbits 445) coupled to a respective channel carrying signals 444-1 and444-2, respectively. For example, the control bits 443-1, 443-2, . . .443-N can be coupled to the line carrying the signal 444-1, and thecontrol bits 445-1, 445-2, . . . 445-N can be coupled to the linecarrying the signal 444-2.

Each buffer of the smoothing filter, such as the buffer 440, can beconfigured to reduce, using a capacitor corresponding to each controlbit 443 and 445, a slew rate of the differential signals until thedifferential signals are converted to a sinusoidal waveform. As usedherein, a slew rate refers to a change of an electrical quantity, suchas voltage or current, per unit of time (e.g., volts/second oramperes/second). The slew rate of the signals 442-1 and 442-2 arereduced over the buffers of the smoothing filter, and output signals444-1 and 444-2 (e.g., corresponding to V_(OUT_0) and V_(OUT_180),respectively) can have a sinusoidal waveform as opposed to anon-sinusoidal waveform of the input signals 442-1 and 442-2. Thefiltered output signals 444-1 and 444-2 can be provided to a nextcomponent of the quadrature signal generator such as a filter bank(e.g., filter bank 216).

In addition to those voltages V_(OUT 0) and V_(OUT 180) filtered fromsignals received from the duty cycle adjuster, the one of the buffers(e.g., bias buffer) of the smoothing filter can further provide biasvoltages a filter bank. Accordingly, in a number of embodiments, twosignals (e.g., corresponding to V_(OUT_0), V_(OUT_180)) and a DC biasvoltage can be provided to the filter bank, which is described furtherbelow.

FIG. 5A-B illustrate an example filter bank of a quadrature signalgenerator in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The filter bank or a portion of the filter bank illustratedin FIGS. 5A and 5B may be analogous to the filter bank 216 described inconnection with FIG. 2. The filter bank 550 can be a multi-stage passivepolyphase filter such as a two-stage passive polyphase filter, asillustrated in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 5A illustrates a portion of the filter bank 550 in accordance witha number of embodiments of the present disclosure. The portion of thefilter bank 550 may be an individual stage of the multi-stage passivepolyphase filter that can be a symmetric resistor-capacitor (RC) networkwith inputs and outputs symmetrically disposed in relative phases.Accordingly, the portion of the filter bank 550 can be referred to as astage 550 of a multi-stage passive polyphase filter hereinafter. As anexample, a resistor and a capacitor of the stage 550 can be a salicidedP+poly resistor and an interdigitated metal-oxide-metal capacitor,respectively. The stage 550 illustrated in FIG. 5A may be analogous to afirst stage (e.g., stage 556-1 illustrated in FIG. 5B) coupled to asmoothing filter (e.g., smoothing filter 440 as illustrated in FIG. 4).

The stage 550 includes four channels to receive a number of inputsignals (e.g., from the smoothing filter 440) such as signals 552-1,522-2, 552-3, and 552-4 corresponding to V_(IN 0), V_(IN 90),V_(BIAS 1), and V_(BIAS 2), respectively. Output signals 554-1, 554-2,554-3, and 554-4 (e.g., corresponding to V_(OUT_0), V_(OUT_180),V_(OUT_90), and V_(OUT_270), respectively) of the stage 550 can be Isignals and Q signals, which are 90° out of phase-shifted relative toeach other. For example, the signal 554-2 is 90° out of phase-shiftedrelative to the signal 554-1; therefore, the signal 554-2 may be Qsignal and the signal 554-1 may be I signal. For example, the signal554-4 is 90° out of phase-shifted relative to the signal 554-3;therefore, the signal 554-4 may be Q signal and the signal 554-3 may beI signal. As described in connection with FIG. 4, DC bias voltagesV_(BIAS_1), and V_(BIAS_2) can be received from a bias buffer of thesmoothing filter. In some embodiments, the DC voltages may be carriedfrom the bias buffer to the stage 550 via an individual channel.

FIG. 5B illustrates a multi-stage passive polyphase filter 555 inaccordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure. Themulti-stage passive polyphase filter 555 includes two stages 556-1 and556-2.

The stage 550 described in connection with FIG. 5A can be cascaded intotwo stages 556-1 and 556-2, although embodiments are not so limited.Designing a multi-stage passive polyphase filter 555 with stagescascaded from a stage such as the stage 550 may reduce designsensitivity to variable values of passive components of the stages 556-1and 556-2, which can reduce complexity in designing the multi-stagepassive polyphase filter 555.

Increasing a number of stages of the multi-stage passive polyphasefilter can provide benefits such as higher frequencies that outputsignals operate within; therefore, providing a wider bandwidth. Tocompensate or prevent signal loss (e.g., attenuation) due to theincreased number of stages of the filter, impedance matching must beaccounted for. To account for the impedance matching, for example, inputimpedance can be added to each channel receiving an input voltage and/oroutput impedance can be added to each channel providing an outputvoltage to a next component of the filter. While embodiments are notlimited to a particular value of the input and output impedances, valuesof the respective input and output impedances can be sufficient toincrease an amplitude of the signals.

In some embodiments, a number of stages may be further added as dummystages (e.g., in parallel with the stages 556-1 and 556-2). These dummystages may be used to shield against lithograph edge effects and reducethe variance in a number of stages including the stages 556-1 and 556-2.

The first stage 556-1 includes four channels 557-1, 557-2, 557-3, 557-4(e.g., collectively referred to as channels 557) to receive inputs froma smoothing filter (e.g., smoothing filter 440). As illustrated in FIG.5, two channels 557-1 and 557-2 receive signals corresponding to inputvoltages V_(IN_0) and V_(IN_180) that are 180° out of phase with oneanother. Other two channels 557-3 and 557-4 are connected to a biasbuffer in the smoothing filter that provides a DC voltage(s) (V_(BIAS_1)and V_(BIAS_2)). A number of embodiments are not limited to a particularnumber of channels via which the bias buffer is coupled to the polyphasefilter 555. For example, a number of embodiments can include anindividual channel for carrying the DC voltage, although, in FIG. 5B,two channels 557-3 and 557-4 are illustrated as channels for carryingthe DC bias voltages from the bias buffer.

The outputs voltages V_(OUT_0_I), V_(OUT_180_I), V_(OUT_90_Q), andV_(OUT_270_Q) of the first stage 556-1 of the multi-stage passivepolyphase filter 555 can be provided to the second stage 556-2 asinputs. The second stage 556-2 receives voltages V_(OUT_0_I),V_(OUT_180_I), V_(OUT_90_Q), and V_(OUT_270_Q) via channels 558-1,558-2, 558-3, and 558-4, respectively. In connecting the first stage556-1 and the second stage 556-2, high layer metal may be used tomitigate resistive effects. Further, a length of the channels 558-1,558-2, 558-3, and 558-4 may be substantially equal to one another tobalance a parasitic interconnect resistance and parasitic capacitors inthe stages 556-1 and 556-2.

The outputs from the second stage 556-2 may be provided to a nextcomponent via channels 559-1, 559-2, 559-3, and 559-4, and may bequadrature signals (e.g., including I and Q signals) that are 90° out ofphase with each other in each quadrant. Two signals (e.g., among thosequadrature signals generated at the second stage 556-2) can serve as apair of differential signals that are complementary to one another. Forexample, V_(OUT_0_I) and V_(OUT_180_I) can be paired to serve as a firstpair of differential signals (e.g., I signals), and V_(OUT 90 Q) andV_(OUT_270_Q) can be paired to serve as a second pair of differentialsignals (e.g., Q signals).

In a number of embodiments, a wideband frequency range can be providedby signals corresponding to the output voltages V_(OUT_0_I),V_(OUT_180_I), V_(OUT_90_Q), and V_(OUT_270_Q) while each signal mayhave a frequency equal to at least one of the differential signalsprovided to the quadrature signal generator. For example, when anoperating frequency of the PLL is 5 GHz; thus, provides differentialsignals of 5 GHz, quadrature signals may also be generated at 5 GHz.Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide bandwidths ofthe wideband frequency range, while not requiring the operatingfrequency of the PLL to be twice of the desired frequency, such asoccurs if a divide-by-two circuit is used for quadrature signalgeneration.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example limiting amplifier 660 of a quadraturesignal generator in accordance with a number of embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The limiting amplifier 660 can be configured toreceive a pair of signals V_(IN_T) and V_(IN_C) from a filter bank(e.g., multi-stage passive polyphase filter 555). In one example, thelimiting amplifier 660 can be configured to receive a pair of I signalscorresponding to output voltages V_(OUT_0_I) and V_(OUT_180_I) (e.g., asillustrated in FIG. 5) from the filter bank, and in another example, thelimiting amplifier 660 can be configured to receive a pair of Q signalscorresponding to output voltages V_(OUT_90_Q), and V_(OUT_270_Q) (e.g.,as illustrated in FIG. 5) from the filter bank. Accordingly, thequadrature signal generator (e.g., quadrature signal generator 104 and204) can include at least two limiting amplifiers configured to receiverespective I and Q signals.

The limiting amplifier 660 can include a number of buffers 662-1, 662-2,. . . 662-N (e.g., collectively referred to as buffers 662). The firststage 662-1 of the limiting amplifier 660 can be used to optimizeimpedance matching.

The quadrature signals generated and received from the filter bank canbe of a low amplitude, which can lead to duty cycle errors due tooffsets among the quadrature signals corresponding to voltages V_(IN_T)and V_(IN_C). In some embodiments, at least one of the stages 662 mayinclude an offset adjusting circuit 664, which can be controlled by anumber of control bits such as control bits 665-1 and 665-2. The offsetadjusting circuit provides a coarse tuning for offsets among thequadrature signals V_(IN_T) and V_(IN_c), which eliminates/reduces theduty cycle errors. Although embodiments are not so limited, the offsetadjusting circuit may be current-based, and can be placed between thefirst stage 662-1 and the second stage 662-2, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The quadrature signals received from the filter bank may be a sinusoidalwaveform. Contrary to the sinusoidal waveform that the filter bankoperates with, clock signals that are used to control timing operationsof a memory system can be a non-sinusoidal waveform such as a squarewaveform, which can be beneficial for digital applications, forinstance. As such, the number of stages 662 may be configured to convertthe quadrature signals to a non-sinusoidal waveform. The quantity ofstages of the limiting amplifier 660 may be configurable based on, forexample, a desired output drive capability, desired bandwidth, and/or adesired noise level associated with the quadrature signals.

FIG. 7 illustrates example phase adjusters 770-1 and 770-2 (e.g.,collectively referred to as phase adjusters 770) of a quadrature signalgenerator in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Each phase adjuster 770-1 and 770-2 can be configured toreceive a respective pair of signals from a respective one of limitingamplifiers (e.g., limiting amplifier 660). For example, the phaseadjuster 770-1 receives I signals (e.g.., generated at the multi-stagepolyphase filter 555 and filtered at one of the limiting amplifiers suchas the limiting amplifier 660) corresponding to V_(IN_00_T) andV_(IN_00_C) and phase adjuster 770-2 receives Q signals (e.g..,generated at the multi-stage polyphase filter 555 and filtered atanother one of the limiting amplifiers such as the limiting amplifier660) corresponding to V_(IN_90_T) and V_(IN_90_C), as illustrated inFIG. 7. Accordingly, each pair of signals corresponding to V_(IN_00_T),V_(IN_00_C) and/or V_(IN_90_T), V_(IN_90_C) is complementary signalshaving data values of true and complement.

The phase adjuster 770-1 includes a number of buffers 772-1, 772-2,772-3, and the phase adjuster 770-2 includes a number of buffers 772-4,772-5, and 772-6. Each phase adjuster 770 further includes a respectivecapacitor bank 774-1 (e.g., or 774-2) placed between a first buffer772-1 (e.g., or 772-4) and a second buffer 772-2 (e.g., or 772-5). Eachcapacitor bank 774-1 and 774-2 can include a number of control bitscoupled to a respective channel. The number of control bits can be usedto change the slew rate of outputs of the first buffer 774-1 and 774-4to compensate errors between I and Q signals. Other buffers such as thesecond buffer 772-2, 772-5 and the third buffer 772-3, 772-6 can bringthe low slew rate of the I and Q signals back and cancel the phaseerrors between the I and Q signals.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example of method 880 forgenerating quadrature clock signals in accordance with a number ofembodiments of the present disclosure. Unless explicitly stated,elements of methods described herein are not constrained to a particularorder or sequence. Additionally, a number of the method embodiments, orelements thereof, described herein may be performed at the same, or atsubstantially the same, point in time.

At block 882, the method 880 includes generating, at a polyphase filterof a quadrature signal generator, a plurality of quadrature signalshaving a sinusoidal waveform at a same frequency as that of adifferential signal received from a clock generator. In someembodiments, the method 880 may further include, prior to generating theplurality of quadrature signals, adjusting a duty cycle of thedifferential signal having the non-sinusoidal waveform.

At block 884, the method 880 includes converting, to a non-sinusoidalwaveform, the plurality of quadrature signals generated at the polyphasefilter. Converting the waveform of the differential signal having thenon-sinusoidal waveform to the sinusoidal waveform may include changinga slew rate of the plurality of quadrature signals generated at thepolyphase filter until a waveform of the plurality of quadrature signalsis converted to the non-sinusoidal waveform. For example, the slew rateof the plurality of quadrature signals may be reduced/increased for theconversion of the sinusoidal waveform to the non-sinusoidal waveform. Insome embodiments, the method 880 may further include correcting a phaseerror between an in-phase (I) signal and a quadrature (Q) signal of theplurality of quadrature signals generated at the polyphase filter.

At block 886, the method 880 includes generating, based on the pluralityof quadrature signals having the converted non-sinusoidal waveform, aplurality of quadrature clock signals having the non-sinusoidal waveform(e.g., square waveform). Embodiments of the present disclosure cangenerate quadrature clock signals generated at a same frequency as thatof those clock signals received from a clock generator. Accordingly, theclock generator is not required to operate in a frequency greater thanthe desired frequency quadrature clock signals are to be operated.Further, embodiments can provide generate quadrature clock signalsoperating in a wideband frequency range (e.g., 2.5 gigahertz (GHz) to 5GHz) to meet high bandwidth requirements of state-of-the-art circuitsand systems such as DDR memory systems). Accordingly, embodiments canprovide benefits such as generating quadrature clock signals operatingin the wideband frequency range without requiring a larger inductor areaand/or with reduced phase noise and power usage.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anarrangement calculated to achieve the same results can be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coveradaptations or variations of a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure. It is to be understood that the above description has beenmade in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combinationof the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specificallydescribed herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art uponreviewing the above description. The scope of a number of embodiments ofthe present disclosure includes other applications in which the abovestructures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of a number ofembodiments of the present disclosure should be determined withreference to the appended claims, along with the full range ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, some features are groupedtogether in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining thedisclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the presentdisclosure have to use more features than are expressly recited in eachclaim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matterlies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus,the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a quadrature signal generator configuredto: generate, based on a received differential signal having anon-sinusoidal waveform, a plurality of quadrature signals at a samefrequency as that of the received differential signal; convert, togenerate a plurality of quadrature clock signals, the plurality ofquadrature signals to a sinusoidal waveform; and provide the pluralityof quadrature clock signals to a memory system; wherein the quadraturesignal generator comprises a filter bank and is configured to use thefilter bank to generate the plurality of quadrature clock signals;wherein: the filter bank is one of a plurality of components included inthe quadrature signal generator; and at least one of the plurality ofcomponents comprises a capacitor bank whose constituent capacitors arecontrollable by respective control bits.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the differential signal is received from a clock generatorcoupled to the quadrature signal generator.
 3. The quadrature signalgenerator of claim 2, wherein the clock generator comprises a phaselocked loop (PLL).
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. A quadrature signalgenerator, comprising: a polyphase filter configured to generate, inresponse to receipt of a differential signal from a clock generator, aplurality of quadrature signals having a sinusoidal waveform at a samefrequency as that of the differential signal; and wherein the quadraturesignal generator is configured to convert, to generate a plurality ofquadrature clock signals, the plurality of quadrature signals to anon-sinusoidal waveform wherein the quadrature signal generator furthercomprises a smoothing filter, and the quadrature signal generator isconfigured to use the smoothing filter to: convert the receiveddifferential signal to a sinusoidal waveform; and provide, to thepolyphase filter, the differential signal having the convertedsinusoidal waveform and a bias voltage.
 7. The quadrature signalgenerator of claim 6, further comprising a duty cycle adjuster coupledto the clock generator, and wherein: the quadrature signal generator isconfigured to use the duty cycle adjuster to adjust, via an adjustablecapacitive load, rise/fall time of the differential signal received fromthe clock generator.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The quadrature signal generator ofclaim 6, wherein: the quadrature signal generator is configured to usethe smoothing filter to change, to convert the differential signal tothe sinusoidal waveform, a slew rate of the differential signal untilthe differential signal is converted to the sinusoidal waveform.
 10. Thequadrature signal generator of claim 6, wherein the smoothing filtercomprises a capacitor bank whose constituent capacitors are controllableby respective control bits, and wherein the smoothing filter isconfigured to control the constituent capacitors of the capacitor bankto change a slew rate of the differential signal until the differentialsignal is converted to the sinusoidal waveform.
 11. The quadraturesignal generator of claim 6, wherein the polyphase filter is amulti-stage polyphase filter, in which at least one of a plurality ofstages of the polyphase filter comprises a symmetric resistor-capacitor(RC) network.
 12. The quadrature signal generator of claim 6, furthercomprising a limiting amplifier, and wherein the quadrature signalgenerator is configured to convert, to the non-sinusoidal waveform, theplurality of quadrature signals via the limiting amplifier. 13.(canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. A method, comprising: in response toreceiving, from a clock generator, a differential signal having anon-sinusoidal waveform: generating, at a filter bank, a plurality ofquadrature signals having a sinusoidal waveform at a same frequency asthat of the differential signal; and generating, based on the pluralityof quadrature signals, a plurality of quadrature clock signals byconverting the plurality of quadrature signals to a non-sinusoidalwaveform, wherein the method further comprises providing, to the filterbank: the differential signal having the converted sinusoidal waveform;and a pair of signals corresponding to respective DC bias voltages thatare complementary to one another.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising converting the differential signal to the sinusoidal waveformprior to providing the differential signal to the filter bank.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein converting the differential signal to thesinusoidal waveform comprises changing a slew rate of the differentialsignal until the differential signal is converted to the sinusoidalwaveform.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein converting thedifferential signal to the sinusoidal waveform comprises controlling,via respective control bits, constituent capacitors of a capacitor bankto change a slew rate of the differential signal.
 19. (canceled)
 20. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the non-sinusoidal waveform is a squarewaveform, and wherein the method further comprises providing theplurality of quadrature clock signals to a memory system.
 21. Aquadrature signal generator, comprising: a polyphase filter configuredto generate, in response to receipt of a differential signal from aclock generator, a plurality of quadrature signals having a sinusoidalwaveform at a same frequency as that of the differential signal; andwherein the quadrature signal generator is configured to convert, togenerate a plurality of quadrature clock signals, the plurality ofquadrature signals to a non-sinusoidal waveform; and wherein thequadrature signal generator further comprises a duty cycle adjustercoupled to the clock generator, and wherein the quadrature signalgenerator is configured to use the duty cycle adjuster to adjust, via anadjustable capacitive load, rise/fall time of the differential signalreceived from the clock generator.
 22. A quadrature signal generator,comprising: a polyphase filter configured to generate, in response toreceipt of a differential signal from a clock generator, a plurality ofquadrature signals having a sinusoidal waveform at a same frequency asthat of the differential signal; and wherein the quadrature signalgenerator is configured to convert, to generate a plurality ofquadrature clock signals, the plurality of quadrature signals to anon-sinusoidal waveform; wherein the quadrature signal generator furthercomprises a limiting amplifier, and wherein the quadrature signalgenerator is configured to convert, to the non-sinusoidal waveform, theplurality of quadrature signals via the limiting amplifier.
 23. Aquadrature signal generator, comprising: a polyphase filter configuredto generate, in response to receipt of a differential signal from aclock generator, a plurality of quadrature signals having a sinusoidalwaveform at a same frequency as that of the differential signal; andwherein the quadrature signal generator is configured to convert, togenerate a plurality of quadrature clock signals, the plurality ofquadrature signals to a non-sinusoidal waveform; wherein the quadraturesignal generator further comprises a phase adjuster coupled to thelimiting amplifier, and wherein the quadrature signal generator isconfigured use the phase adjuster to change, to correct a phase errorbetween an in-phase (I) signal and a quadrature (Q) signal of theplurality of quadrature signals, a slew rate of the plurality ofquadrature signals.
 24. The quadrature signal generator of claim 23,wherein the phase adjuster comprises a capacitor bank whose constituentcapacitors are controllable by respective control bits.
 25. A method,comprising: in response to receiving, from a clock generator, adifferential signal having a non-sinusoidal waveform: generating, at afilter bank, a plurality of quadrature signals having a sinusoidalwaveform at a same frequency as that of the differential signal; andgenerating, based on the plurality of quadrature signals, a plurality ofquadrature clock signals by converting the plurality of quadraturesignals to a non-sinusoidal waveform; wherein the method furthercomprises: converting the differential signal to the sinusoidal waveformprior to providing the differential signal to the filter bank; andconverting the differential signal to the sinusoidal waveform compriseschanging a slew rate of the differential signal until the differentialsignal is converted to the sinusoidal waveform.
 26. A method,comprising: in response to receiving, from a clock generator, adifferential signal having a non-sinusoidal waveform: generating, at afilter bank, a plurality of quadrature signals having a sinusoidalwaveform at a same frequency as that of the differential signal; andgenerating, based on the plurality of quadrature signals, a plurality ofquadrature clock signals by converting the plurality of quadraturesignals to a non-sinusoidal waveform; wherein the method furthercomprises: converting the differential signal to the sinusoidal waveformprior to providing the differential signal to the filter bank; andconverting the differential signal to the sinusoidal waveform comprisescontrolling, via respective control bits, constituent capacitors of acapacitor bank to change a slew rate of the differential signal.